OSU basketball: Koufos to declare for NBA draft

Apr. 22, 2008

Ohio State's Kosta Koufos holds up the NIT's most outstanding player award April 3 after the Buckeyes beat Massachusetts 92-85 in the tournament final. Ohio State confirmed Koufos will declare himself eligible for the NBA draft. / AP

COLUMBUS (AP) -- Ohio State freshman Kosta Koufos will declare for the NBA draft, the school said Monday.

The 7-foot Koufos will not immediately sign with an agent, leaving open the possibility of returning to the Buckeyes next season, Ohio State spokesman Dan Wallenberg said in a statement.

A message seeking comment was left on an answering machine at the home of Koufos' mother in Canton.

Koufos, a forward-center, averaged 14.4 points and 6.7 rebounds per game and had 22 points and nine rebounds in Ohio State's win against Massachusetts in the NIT championship.

The decision by Koufos to vault to the NBA after one year was reported earlier Monday by FoxSports.com and The Canton Repository. Koufos had sent a text message to the newspaper announcing his intentions.